Star Light, Star Bright

TWO

Rafael.

"How many packs are left?" I felt a migraine pounding away in my head like a jackhammer. Rubbing at my temples the pain receded only the smallest bit.

"Just one more." My mother took out her massive purse and began to rummage around in it, wisps of her graying black hair falling from her elegant up twist. "Here, take this."

I was relieved to see that it was the aspirin that my mother carried with her everywhere. Taking them I quickly swallowed them along with a gulp of water.

"I don't like this." I told my mother quietly. I felt like a stud stallion out for bidding as we were herded from pack to pack. I was mateless and a potential ally to any pack that was willing to give up their children but I wanted my true mate.

And so we shuffled from pack to pack. It was a testament to my patience as most of the packs presented their unmated males and females and all but threw them at me. Some even went so far as to try to seduce me in hopes that I would lose control and Mark them. A laughable notion, that a Prince would be so weak as to lose control of his impulses. It was in vain that they schemed so hard and deviously to catch a Prince.

"I know son," my mother squeezed my hand in a comforting way. She pressed a button that put up the security window on the limo that we were in. "You must be patient in finding your mate. Have you a preference? Male or female?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't care if my mate is a he or she. I just want to have my mate by my side."

My mother nodded approvingly.

"Highness, we are a hundred miles out." My bodyguard, Lucas Parker, informed us quietly as he tapped away at his sleek phone. "Should we notify the pack that we are about to arrive?"

Lucas's family had served as bodyguards to my own family for centuries and so he was seen as family. Even more so that we had been raised together. My mother all but adopted Lucas.

"Please do," my mother smiled at Lucas, happy that he was finally dropping the subservient attitude that his trainers had drilled into his head. "Thank you Lucas."

I tapped my thigh, I was nervous and I didn't know why. I felt as if I were on a hunt and about to run my prey down. The anticipation and excitement was flooding my system and I had no earthly idea why I would feel so.

Always attentive to my change in moods Lucas glanced at me in concern. Shaking my head slightly I resumed my study of the scenery passing by.

A hundred miles away and only two hours to wait. But it felt longer. It felt as if this trip should have been made in quicker time, as if I needed to hurry. To rush.

To my relief the limo began to go just a bit faster. Glancing at Lucas I found him still tapping away on his phone and realized that he had told the driver to speed up. Grateful for that consideration I relaxed just a tiny bit.

My wolf paced to and fro in my mind. Snarling and whining he was impatient. He had started this behavior nearly three weeks ago. While he had always been ill tempered it had grown worse in the passing weeks. We both had felt that something was off but we were both mystified as to why. And that infuriated us even more.

I glanced at my watch, an hour and a half more to wait.

I wondered if my mate would be tall or short. I was tall myself, well over six foot four. I would like it if my mate was shorter than I but it was a small matter. I would love my mate regardless of their height.

I detested that my father had a list of requirements for my mate but I was definitely not going to follow those requirements. I loved my father but his power plays were putting a strain on our relationship as father and son.